The Wheel of Life - A Tool for Self-Discovery and Goal Setting

In the last week the exercise of the Wheel of Life came up in different sessions and in case you feel stuck or unsure where to focus your energy, the tool might be helpful.

The Wheel of Life exercise can be a powerful tool for gaining clarity and identifying areas of your life that might need some attention. It's a simple yet effective way to visualize your current state of satisfaction across various key life domains.

Here's how to create your own Wheel of Life:

1. Define Your Life Domains:

Start by identifying the core areas that contribute to your overall well-being. 

Common categories include:

• Career: Work, professional development, and sense of accomplishment.

• Finances: Financial security, budgeting, and management.

• Health & Wellness: Physical and mental health, self-care practices.

• Relationships: Family, friends, romantic partner, quality connections.

• Personal Growth: Learning new things, self-discovery, expanding your knowledge.

• Fun & Recreation: Hobbies, leisure activities, pursuing your passions.

• Contribution: Giving back to your community, volunteering, making a difference.

• Environment: Your physical surroundings, living space, work environment.
  

Feel free to adjust these categories to reflect what's most important to you.

2. Draw and Label Your Wheel:

Draw a large circle and divide it into sections like a pie chart. Label each section with one of your chosen life domains.

3. Rate Your Satisfaction:

Now comes the self-reflection part. Imagine a scale of 1 (completely dissatisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied) for each domain. On each section of the wheel, draw a line or shade in an area representing your current level of satisfaction in that area. A larger section indicates a greater sense of fulfillment.

4. Analyze Your Wheel:

Take a good look at your Wheel of Life. Are there any sections which you would like to change or are you happy with the scores? Areas with a low score might be aspects of your life that need more attention or you are satisfied with the score. Not everything can be a perfect 10, it's about deciding your own priorities. On the other hand, high scoring areas might be your strengths or sources of happiness.

5. Action Planning:

Use your insights to set goals for improvement. For areas scoring low, brainstorm ways to increase your satisfaction. Maybe you need to dedicate more time to a neglected hobby, prioritize self-care practices, or seek professional development opportunities.

Your Personal Wheel of Life Story

Now let's dive into examples from my own life. I truly fell in love with this exercise when I attended the Female Leadership Training. At that time, my wheel of life looked quite imbalanced. Being in the US, I was far away from friends and family, and clearly neglecting my health. As you can see, my major focus and passion was my career at that point. I thrived in a job that allowed me to travel, learn from different cultures, and bring innovation back to my role. My relationship with my partner at the time was also a source of satisfaction.

When I returned from the US, my wheel of life had shifted. While another leadership program provided growth, the demands of being a leader took a toll on my health and my relationship. This experience prompted a renewed focus on health and reconnecting with friends.

Later, after going through a divorce, the Wheel of Life exercise helped me identify crucial areas that needed attention. It became clear that I lacked a sense of belonging to a community, and finances became a major concern as I figured out how to become self-sufficient. Let's just say, this was a major wake-up call about letting someone else manage the finances! (Never again!)

Looking at my wheel of life today, my adventurous spirit is calling me to explore the world again, immerse myself in a new culture, and learn a new language. Stay tuned 😊✨

Embrace the Journey

Remember, the Wheel of Life is a valuable tool for ongoing self-reflection. As your life unfolds, revisit this exercise periodically to track your progress and identify new areas for focus. You might find that your priorities and definitions of satisfaction evolve over time.

By incorporating the Wheel of Life into your personal growth journey, you can gain clarity, create goals, and work towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Find Your Wave 🌊

Sarah